How did it come to pass that fans were wearing Gareth Southgate’s vests and had plastic beer cups thrown at him?
Of singing”South gate you are the one he takes out?
The relationship between the loyal English club and their manager has become so tense during this period that a rift has occurred. euro.
“We’ve had to solve a number of issues as a team over the last few weeks,” Southgate said.
“And I’m the leader who tries to tie it all together and maintain the colossus that is power. England football team on the right track.”
But it will mean the end for Southgate and England on Sunday night if England are knocked out of Euro 2024 by Slovakia.
A 99th match after eight transformative but ultimately trophyless years in power. Up to now.
‘Ultimate challenge’
“Every day I wake up and think what do we have to do,” he said. “It’s the ultimate challenge.”
They made it to the tournament – unlike Steve McClaren’s England in 2008 – and did not go home in the group stages – unlike Roy Hodgson’s England who did not win a single match at the 2014 World Cup.
Southgate made fans – and even many players – fall in love with the England team again.
It is the way to reach the last 16 here, with just one win and two dismal draws, fuelling discontent.
There is certainly a lack of perspective. How often do England entertain in the group stage? Even the 1966 World Cup victory started with a loss of points early on.
The reduced risk in this 24-team European Championship format gives a strong certainty of reaching the knockout stage where the tournament starts.
To remind, Spain were the only team to qualify from their group with three wins.
The last two winners of the trophy – Portugal And Italy – both games lost. Even hosts Germany drop points.
Italy, who have beaten England in the last three years, became the first team to be sent off in the last 16.
‘Desperate to get it right’
Southgate has become increasingly irritated by the disagreement in sessions with the media, while being careful not to widen the divide with his supporters.
The groans after the tepid 0-0 draw against Slovenia prompted Southgate to say: “I haven’t seen any other team qualify and receive the same.”
We didn’t see the 53-year-old any closer than this.
It seems like he’s taking the opportunity to say: be careful what you wish for. Don’t you have a short memory?
Six years ago, Southgate was credited with revitalising the team and reconnecting with fans during the 2018 World Cup.
There were murmurs of frustration that England could not find a way out Croatia to reach the World Cup final. But at least they had reached their first men’s semi-final since Euro ’96, winning a penalty shootout along the way. Russia.
This was the summer of Southgate, who lifted the mood of the nation, acting as a unifying figure for a country torn apart by Brexit division.
“I just want to do well for my country,” said Southgate, recalling the pain and near misses as a defender himself for England.
The modesty, humility and decency that Southgate displayed made him the perfect antidote to the tumult.
Remember, he was the accidental manager who never pursued this status.
Bold calls
Think back to Euro 2016, the humiliating last-16 exit against Iceland and Roy Hodgson lamenting after facing the media in his final stint as national coach: “I don’t know why I’m here.”
This was the low point for England.
At the time, Southgate attended the tournament as UEFA technical observer.
But on the final day of Euro 2016 he held talks with the thenFA boss in one Paris hotel before turning down the opportunity to take over as U21 manager as he believed he lacked the experience for the top job.
How many others would be as self-deprecating if given the opportunity of a lifetime?
The job unexpectedly became available quickly thanks to Sam Allardyce’s unprotected bar talk to undercover reporters. He ended his reign after one match with a 100% score by beating Slovakia.
That brings England round to face Slovakia again on Sunday night in Gelsenkirchen, with a Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland up for grabs.
“We still sing about him,” said 34-year-old fan Brad Day in a Cologne bar. “We’ve had the best six years of English football that I can remember.”
Luke Buxton, who has traveled from Barnsley to watch every England match in Germany, believes England have fallen short.
“I think he’s underrated,” he said. “But I can see why people are angry because you have so much attacking talent, so much ability across the squad, you look at what the players are doing for their clubs and it’s right to wonder why they’re not doing that at international level match.”
As national coach, Southgate has little time throughout the year to influence the players tactically.
The task is to integrate the best talent into a team and make the bold selection decisions.
But despite their weariness, Harry Kane And Judas Bellingham appear unstoppable given the potential for them to provide the needed scoring spark.
‘You shouldn’t be afraid of losing’
Can Southgate find solutions?
For some he is not charismatic enough and too boring. The source of social media ridicule and mocking memes.
What seemed an attractive quality when results were in his favour (fans wearing Southgate vests at the 2018 World Cup) is now being criticised for a style of play that lacks ambition.
Just not daring enough. Not taking enough risks.
Nowadays scholarship is seen as boring.
But he has tried to show that this should not be the “impossible task”. It’s one that pastors felt carried as much pressure as leading the country.
In a week that could see a change of Prime Ministers, Southgate will be hoping his government still makes it all the way through the finals. Berlin on July 14.
Read more:
Who else could England face in the knockout stages?
What England fans think of him is ‘irrelevant’, says Southgate
How politics guides the music of Glastonbury
“We shouldn’t be afraid of losing,” he said.
But for the manager whose love letter to fans was turned into the West End play Dear England, he’s preparing to say Goodbye England.
It could still end in a trophy parade.
(c) Sky News 2024: Euro 2024: How did we go from England fans wearing Southgate vests to having beer cups thrown at him?
